Types of Knowledge as Predictors of Company Support: The Role of Information in Risk Communication

Knowledge of chemicals and chemical processes is assumed by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) policy and by scholars and practitioners of public relations to underpin how people understand and evaluate the risks they en- counter. What has been elusive, however, is the connection between knowledge of this kind, awareness of risks (such as those related to chemical plants), and support or opposition. Previous research has found nonsignificant relations between knowledge of technical data and support or opposition for ostensible sources of risk. To further examine this problem, a study was conducted in communities with high concentrations of chemical plants. Results indicate that the communities differ in the extent to which knowledge of chemicals and processes, economic benefits, violations of EPA and state regulations, and outreach efforts correlates with support for the facilities. Results suggest that support or opposition may be a function of levels of knowledge in ways that are idiosyncratic to communities, based on their communication infrastructures and cultures